GOULDIAN FEMALES PLUCKED ALMOST BALD AND FIGHTING OVER NESTS

isibee · Post by **isibee** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:49 pm

Is this normal behavior? they are breeding right now...everything is going well on that level but being plucked almost bald!

Also 2 males are fighting over one nest, one couple made its nest and layed eggs but the other male is fighting to get it and incubate the eggs as its own...there are more than enough nestboxes for the couples...what am I to do?

thanks

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:58 pm

Sounds like you need to seperate the pairs. That level of aggression is hard on the birds during breeding.

Sean

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:08 pm

How many pairs do you have together? Just 2?

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:45 am

when you say there are more than enough nestboxes how many are there and how many pairs of birds, most people work on 2 nests per pair of birds

williep · Post by **williep** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:12 am

Another thing to consider is the positioning of the nest boxes. If there are one one or two in prime position they will fight over them, make sure you have enough at the same hight in the cage (as high as possible).

Also, are there excess males i.e. more males than females? If that is the case the extras must be moved ASAP.

If that doesn't settle things down I'd also consider seperating the pairs.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:27 am

Have you seen the hens being plucked?...it sounds like typical gouldian baldness to me...I have several birds with feather loss. Not plucking but dietary...mine are on a high protein diet with extra iodine supplements...but I still get balding birds.Especially hens after breeding.

isibee · Post by **isibee** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:06 pm

I have 3 couples and 4 nestboxes in an extra large cage...they have alot of space to move around...looks like jelousy...for the females, well yes the males are plucking the females and it looks like "normal" behavior while breeding as I read on internet...now the problem is one female dropped an egg at the bottom of the cage...

any ideas?

Post by **Hilary** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:04 pm

How big is the cage? I breed gouldians, and have to say that they never pluck during breeding - that's not normal behavior for the species. Zebras, yes, but not goulds. The egg on the floor was probably knocked out of a nest during the squabbling.

Nipper06 · Post by **Nipper06** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:12 pm

I don't think there is a cage really big enough for 3 pairs of Gouldians to breed successfully. For them to be plucking eachothers heads and dropping eggs, it sounds like stress caused by overcrowding. For more than one breeding pair, you really need separate cages or an aviary.

I breed 1 pair of finches in cages this size.... and there's no problems!

isibee · Post by **isibee** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:33 pm

well the fights look to be over, they have found nests to their likings...as for plucking well I spoke to the woman who sold them to me and she has over 300 goulds and some do that. She has been breeding goulds for many years...

My boyfriend is now building me an aviary...talk soon...

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:23 pm

"Do you really love me Isibee??"

"Of course I do lover! .....Now can you hurry up and finish this, I've got some birds coming this weekend."

...........................................

Post by **Hilary** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:04 pm

Well, I only have about 80 and they don't pluck - but then, they're also not overcrowded. I'm glad to hear the b/f is building an aviary!

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:03 am

I have around 130 and mine don't pluck either....

nachoman · Post by **nachoman** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 4:24 am

Your just bragging paul.

williep · Post by **williep** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 4:53 am

I have about 4 and never saw any plucking either.

FINCHforum

GOULDIAN FEMALES PLUCKED ALMOST BALD AND FIGHTING OVER NESTS

GOULDIAN FEMALES PLUCKED ALMOST BALD AND FIGHTING OVER NESTS

Feather plucking is a sign of stress